Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T12:47:20.382Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Dietary diversification/modification strategies to enhance micronutrient content and bioavailability of diets in developing countries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Rosalind S. Gibson  and
Christine Hotz
Rosalind S. Gibson*
Affiliation:
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Christine Hotz
Affiliation:
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Rosalind S. Gibson, fax +64 3 479 7958, email Rosalind.Gibson@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Both cereal staples and household diets can be manipulated to enhance the content of micronutrients and/or alter the levels of absorption modifiers to improve micronutrient bioavailability. Strategies described range from plant breeding, use of fertilizers and genetic engineering to changes in food preparation and processing methods at the household level involving soaking, fermentation and germination. The impact of five household strategies designed to enhance the content and bioavailability of iron, zinc and calcium in a representative daily menu for rural Malawian preschool children has been calculated using food composition data. In the five strategies, relishes based on small dried fish replaced plant-based relishes, maize-based porridges prepared with maize flour soaked to reduce its hexa (IP-6)- and penta (IP-5)-inositol phosphate content replaced conventional porridges; and a pumpkin-leaf relish replaced sweet potato to increase the retinol content of the daily menu. Comparison of the calculated energy, nutrient, and phytate content, and [phytate]:[zinc] molar ratios of the five modified menus compared with the unmodified menu emphasizes that to ensure that the estimated requirements for iron and zinc are met, the optimal strategy includes dried fish relish twice daily together with porridges prepared using soaked (or fermented) maize flour to reduce their hexa- and penta-inositol phosphate content. Implementation of these household strategies has the potential to increase the bioavailability of iron and zinc in rural Malawian diets from low to high.

Keywords

Dietary strategiesMicronutrient contentBioavailabilityDeveloping countriesPlant-based staples
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 85 , Issue S2 , May 2001 , pp. S159 - S166
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2001

References

Allen, LH (1994) Vitamin B-12 metabolism and status during pregnancy, lactation and infancy. In Nutrient Regulation during Pregnancy, Lactation, and Infant Growth 173–186. [Allen, L, King, J and Lönnerdal, B, editors]. New York: Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allen, LH & Ahluwalia, N (1997) Improving Iron Status Through Diet. The Application of Knowledge Concerning Dietary Iron Bioavailability in Human Populations, Arlington: John Snow, Inc./OMNI Project.Google Scholar
Bartnik, M & Szafranska, I (1987) Change in phytate content and phytase activity during the germination of some cereals. Journal of Cereal Science 5, 23–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Becker, B (1986) Wild plants for human nutrition in the Sahelian zone. Journal of Arid Environments 11, 61–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brummett, RE & Haight, B (1996) Research-development linkages Report of the Expert Consultation on Small Scale Rural Aquaculture 145–169.Google Scholar
Bunch, S & Murphy, SP (1997) User's Guide to the Operation of the World Food Dietary Assessment Program. Berkeley, CA: Office of Technology Licensing, University of California.Google Scholar
Camacho, L, Sierra, C, Campos, R, Guzman, E & Marcus, D (1992) Nutritional changes caused by germination of legumes commonly eaten in Chile. Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutricion 42, 283–290.Google ScholarPubMed
Chang, R, Schwimmer, S & Burr, HK (1977) Phytate: removal from whole dry beans by enzymatic hydrolysis and diffusion. Journal of Food Science 42, 1098–1101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
COMA—Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (1991) Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom: Report on Health and Social Subjects 41. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Cook, JD & Monsen, ER (1976) Food iron absorption in human subjects. 3 Comparison of the effect of animal proteins on nonheme iron absorption. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 29, 859–867.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
De Boland, AR, Garner, GB & O'Dell, BL (1975) Identification and properties of phytate in cereal grains and oilseed products. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 23, 1186–1189.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
de Pee, , Bloem, MW, Satoto, , Yip, R, Sukaton, A, Tjiong, R, Shrimpton, R, Muhilal, & Kodyat, B (1998) Impact of a social marketing campaign promoting dark-green leafy vegetables and eggs in Central Java, Indonesia. International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research 68, 389–398.Google ScholarPubMed
FAO/WHO – Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health (1988) Requirements of Vitamin A, Iron, Folate and Vitamin B-12. Rome: FAO.Google Scholar
Ferguson, EL, Gibson, RS, Thompson, LU, Ounpuu, S & Berry, M (1988) Phytate, zinc and calcium contents of 30 East African foods and their calculated phytate: Zn, Ca: phytate, and [Ca][phytate]/[Zn] molar ratios. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 1, 316–325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferguson, EL (1992) A comparison of the seasonal food consumption patterns and zinc status of preschool children living in rural areas of Southern Malawi and Southern Ghana. PhD Thesis, University of Guelph.Google Scholar
Grenier, R & Konietzny, U (1999) Improving enzymatic reduction of myo-inositol phosphates with inhibitory effects on mineral absorption in black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. preto). Journal of Food Processing and Preservation 23, 249–261.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibson, RS (1994) Zinc nutrition in developing countries. Nutrition Research Reviews 7, 151–173.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gibson, RS & Ferguson, EL (1998) Nutrition intervention strategies to combat zinc deficiency in developing countries. Nutrition Research Reviews 10, 1–18.Google Scholar
Graham, RD & Welch, RM (1996) Breeding for staple food crops with high micronutrient density. Working Papers on Agricultural Strategies for Micronutrients, No. 3tle. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute.Google Scholar
Hagenimana, V, Oyunga, MA, Low, J, Gichuki, S & Kabira, J (1999) The Effects of Women Farmers' Adoption of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potatoes: Raising Vitamin A Intake in Kenya. Washington, DC: International Center for Research on Women.Google Scholar
Hallberg, L & Rossander, L (1984) Improvement of iron nutrition in developing countries: Comparison of adding meat, soy protein, ascorbic acid, citric acid, and ferrous sulphate on iron absorption from a simple Latin American-type of meal. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 39, 577–583.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hansen, M, Thilsted, SH, Sandström, B, Kongsbak, K, Larsen, T, Jensen, M & Sørensen, SS (1998) Calcium absorption from small soft-boned fish. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology 12, 148–154.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hirabayashi, M, Matsui, T & Yano, H (1998) Fermentation of soybean meal with Aspergillus usamii improves zinc availability in rats. Biological Trace Element Research 61, 227–234.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Holland, B, Brown, J & Buss, DH (1993) Fish and Fish Products. The Third Supplement to McCance & Widdowson's The Composition of Foods (5th Edition). The Royal Society of Chemistry and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
House, WA, Van, Campen DR & Welch, RM (1996) Supplemental sulfur-containing amino acids enhance the bioavailability to rats of zinc in corn kernels. Nutrition Research 16, 225–235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huddle, J-M (1996) Energy intake, iron and zinc nutriture of pregnant women in rural Southern Malawi. PhD Thesis, University of Guelph.Google Scholar
Iglesias, C (1996) Genetic potential and stability of beta-carotene content in Cassava roots. Micronutrients and Agriculture 2, 2–14.Google Scholar
Irving, GCJ (1980) Phytase. In Inositol Phosphates. Their Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physiology 85–98 [Cosgrove, DJ, editor]. Amsterdam: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Kim, SH & Oh, S-Y (1996) Cultural and nutritional aspects of traditional Korean diet. World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics 79, 109–132.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lasztity, R & Lasztity, L (1990) Phytic acid in cereal technology. Advances in Cereal Science Technology 10, 309–371.Google Scholar
Lönnerdal, B, Sandberg, A-S, Sandström, B & Kunz, C (1989) Inhibitory effects of phytic acid and other inositol phosphates on zinc and calcium absorption in suckling rats. Journal of Nutrition 119, 211–214.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lorenz, K (1980) Cereal sprouts: composition, nutritive value, food applications. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 13, 353–385.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lynch, SR, Hurrell, RF, Dassenko, SA & Cook, JD (1989) The effect of dietary proteins on iron bioavailability in man. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 248, 117–132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maage, A & Julshamn, K (1993) Assessment of zinc status in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) by measurement of whole body and tissue levels of zinc. Aquaculture 117, 179–191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malaisse, F & Parent, G (1985) Edible wild vegetable products in the Zambezian woodland area. A nutritional and ecological approach. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 18, 43–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mendoza, C, Viteri, Fe, Lönnerdal, B, Young, KA, Raboy, V & Brown, KH (1998) Effect of genetically modified low phytic acid maize on absorption of iron from tortillas. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 68, 1123–1127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mølbak, K, Jensen, H, Ingholt, L & Aaby, P (1997) Risk factors for diarrheal disease incidence in early childhood: a community cohort study from Guinea-Bissau. American Journal of Epidemiology 146, 273–282.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mosha, AC & Svanberg, U (1990) The acceptance and intake of bulk-reduced weaning foods: The Luganga village study. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 12, 69–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Dell, BL, de Bowland, AR & Koirtyohann, SR (1972) Distribution of phytate and nutritionally important elements among the morphological components of cereal grains. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 20, 718–721.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pen, J, Verwoerd, TC, van Paridon, PA, Beudeker, RF, van den, Elzen PJM, Geerse, K, van der, Klis JD, Versteegn, HAJ, van Ooyen, AJJ & Hoekema, A (1993) Phytase-containing transgenic seeds as a novel feed additive for improved phosphorus utilization. Bio/Technology 11, 811–814.Google Scholar
Raboy, V, Below, FE & Dickinson, DB (1989) Alterations of maize kernel phytic acid levels by recurrent selection for protein and oil. Journal of Heredity 80, 311–315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sandberg, A-S & M, Friedman (1991) The effect of food processing on phytate hydrolysis and availability of iron and zinc In Nutritional and Toxicological Consequences of Food Processing 499–508. [Friedman, M, editor]. New York: Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sandberg, A-S, Rossander Hulthen, L & Turk, M (1996) Dietary Aspergillus niger phytase increases iron absorption in humans. Journal of Nutrition 126, 476–480.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sandberg, A-S, Brune, M, Carlsson, N-G, Hallberg, L, Skoglund, E & Rossander-Hulthen, L (1999) Inositol phosphates with different numbers of phosphate groups influence iron absorption in humans. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 70, 240–246.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sandström, B, Almgren, A, Kivisto, B & Cederblad, A (1989) Effect of protein and protein source on zinc absorption in humans. Journal of Nutrition 119, 48–53.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shrimpton, R (1995) Community participation in food and nutrition programs: an analysis of recent government experiences In Child Growth and Nutrition in Developing Countries 243–261 [Pinstrup-Anderson, P, Pelletier, D and Alderman, H, editors]. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.Google Scholar
Svanberg, U, Lorri, W & Sandberg, A-S (1993) Lactic fermentation of non-tannin and high-tannin cereals: effects on in vitro estimation of iron availability and phytate hydrolysis. Journal of Food Science 58, 408–412.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
United Nations Administrative Committee on Coordination Sub-Committee on Nutrition 1997 Third Report of the World Nutrition Situation. Geneva: WHO.Google Scholar
World Health Organization 1983 Measuring change in nutritional status: guidelines for assessing the nutritional impact of supplementary feeding programmes for vulnerable groups Geneva: WHO.Google Scholar
World Health Organization 1996 Trace elements in human nutrition and health Geneva: WHO.Google Scholar
World Health Organization 1998 Complementary feeding of young children in developing countries: a review of current scientific knowledge Geneva: WHO.Google Scholar
Ye, X, Al-Babili, S, Kloti, A, Zhang, J, Lucca, P, Beyer, P & Potrykus, I (2000) Engineering the provitamin A (beta-carotene) biosynthetic pathway into (carotenoid-free) rice endosperm. Science 287, 303–305.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed